Adventure and Photography – Passion for the Outdoors

Raspberry Ridge

We were both eager to start hiking season again, but the season doesn’t really start before June and in some locations July in the Rockies. So I picked up one of my favourite guidebooks for hiking (‘Where the locals hike in the Canadian Rockies’) and searched under the section ‘shoulder season hikes’ where Raspberry Ridge was listed as a good option for spring hiking. The hike was also listed as easy and good ‘first of the season’ hike if you have not kept a strict fitness regime over winter. Perfect – I thought. But what you need to have in mind reading this guidebook is that the authors are exceptionally fit, so what they find easy might not fall under the easy category for everyone… Also trying to attempt this hike in April made it a bit more challenging due to remaining snow cover.

First look at Raspberry Ridge

The pull-out for the trailhead is found along highway 940, about 10 kilometres after taking of from highway 40. The hike started easy as promised by the guidebook where we followed an old dirt road. This sections was partially snow covered where the sun had not been able to reach, but the snow was mostly hard packed and we had no problem getting across. In the open terrain all snow was gone. We even saw butterflies here.

When we got our first look at Raspberry Ridge we realised it still had more snow on the ridge than we had anticipated, or hoped for, you can’t really expect the snow to be gone by April at 2360 meter above sea level. But we decided to give it a shot anyways. Hopefully we would find a spot where it was possible to get over the ridgecrest.

Still sections of snow on the ground

Beautiful views as we start the steep ascend

My husband discovered green lichen while I was catching my breath

The first 3-4 km was easy, but the majority of the elevation gain was the last kilometer and it definitely got my heart pumping! And it was during this steep section I wished I had done more exercise over the winter months, holy smokes I thought I was going have a heart attack. 400 meters elevation gain in 850 meters. My husband, who just came back from a week of alpine skitouring, didn’t seem affected at all and had plenty of time to get some nice photos of the view and close up shots of green lichen I didn’t even notice as I was busy trying to breathe…

The trail disappears under the snow cover

Last 200 meters consisted of snow and scrambling over the ridgecrest

The last section of the trail we got to the snow cover we had observed earlier. From here we had to abandon the trail and just head for the section that looked easiest to ascend. There was some steep snowy sections and scrambling involved to get over the cornice at the ridgecrest. No photos from this section as I was busy clinging on to the rocks…This part will definitely be easier in summer when you can follow the trail.

Walking along the ridge

Once we were above the ridgecrest it was a nice, but windy walk along the along the ridge to the fire lookout. There was still some significant snow cornices on the ridge so we kept a safe distance to the edge. At the fire lookout there was 5 buildings and a helipad. The fire lookout is still being used in the summer months, but guess it is not summer yet as all the windows where shut close. It was fairly windy so we just stayed long enough to have a quick look at the 360 degree view and grab some selfies before we started the descend.

The fire lookout at 2320 meters

360 degree view from the lookout

Selfie on the helipad

After the somewhat uncomfortable ascend to get over the ridgecrest we decided to take an alternative route down that looked less demanding. Instead on walking back the ridgecrest to descend where we came up we started the descent from the lookout. This might not have been the best option as it ended up involving some off trail hiking and more snow. But after checking out the statistics it was actually a shorter (but probably not a faster) route.

Trying a different route down

Doing some off trail hiking

It was great getting out there again, but we will probably have to wait a month or so before we start doing hikes in the national parks.

Difficulty:Easy first 3.5 km, strenuous last km.

Length:9.7 km roundtrip

Elevation gain: 617 m

Duration:4hours 40 minutes (probably faster without the snow later in the season)

Did you know – this was actually the first hike we have done in K-Country / Rocky Mountains where we haven’t met a single person on the trail! Thanks for reading, comment are much appreciated! I would like to hear what you think – have you started hiking season yet, or maybe you do hiking year round?

No signs of raspberries, maybe if it had been August. I tried finding information on why it is called Raspberry Ridge but could not find any reliable information on why it is. I just have to assume there are raspberries growing wild in the area:)

Thank you! It was a work out for sure! The first hike of the year always feels a bit hard, hoping the next will be easier. We did enjoy it despite a bit more snow than anticipated. A couple of times I had snow up to my waist, just had to laugh at it:)

It was only the last section that was a bit challenging. I did not particularly like passing over the cornice at the ridge, but made it up:)

I guess he gets to experience a lot of fin stuff, but what I haven’t mentioned is all the boring stuff he also does like making dinner, grocery shopping, doing laundry and most importantly: packing me lunch:) Guess I am a bit spoiled as well;)

Hi LuAnn! Oh you will not regret if you get the opportunity to the Canadian Rockies. I can truly say it is one of the most beautiful places I have been. You should definitely drive the Icefields Parkway that takes you from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper. A more beautiful stretch of road is difficult to find:) Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks Ingrid! The snow definitely made the hike more challenging. Instead of doing switchbacks up the steep sections we had to go more or less straight up. A couple of times I had snow up to my waist! We just had to laugh at it. Thanks for reading.

Hi Sue! The last section was a bit steep, but I think it will be easier closer to summer without the snow as you can follow the switchbacks up. The trail was all covered in snow so we had to go more or less straight up on the open patches. And getting past the cornice on the ridge was a bit challenging (for me at least, my husband as usual didn’t seem to be bothered). It was great doing some hiking again, but a still a bit too much snow for my taste. In some sections I had snow to my waist! We just had to laugh at it:) Thanks for reading!

Wonderful, you make me want to get out and hike today…instead of walking around this concrete jungle of downtown Hong Kong! Great photos, like the detail of the lichen and of course the sunburst. Cheers ~

Thanks Randall! Hong Kong probably isn’t that bad, but I agree there is something about getting up in the mountains! Lichen is definitely a more correct term for the green plant-like thing on the tree. I will have to correct my text. I had no idea what to call it so didn’t even know what to search for on the big o’internet. Thanks for reading!

Wow, what a hike. The view looks great and a summer version of the hike would be fun. We had a funny weather so last weekend we kayaked, the earliest we have done so in the last 20 years we have been here. We can hike all around our valley right now and we actually ate outdoors in our short sleeved shirts tonight. Keep hiking, writing and taking photos. thanks, Jim

Hi Jim. A definitely agree this would be a nice hike for summer. In some parts I had snow up to my waist! We just had to laugh at it:)

Sounds like you have had some nice spring weather. Kayaking sounds great, we haven’t done that this season yet. Maybe that’s what we should do while we wait for the trails to be free of snow. A great idea.

Hi Kathy! I also love a hike that rewards you with a 360 degree view at the summit. As you we will probably do more local hikes while waiting for the trails to clear up. Some of the sections had a bit too much snow for my liking. Guess we were a bit optimistic:) Thanks for reading!

That looks like such a beautiful hike! I have also found that many hiking guides are a bit optimistic about the reader’s fitness level haha. I consider myself to be in fairly good shape and sometimes question what they consider to be an “easy” hike.

Thanks Amanda, the views were superb! I guess the snow made the hike a bit tougher, so it might go under easy during summer. The first hike of the season is always hard, hopefully the next one will be easier! Thanks for reading!

Hey! You have very interesting blog and I like it very much! A lot of colorful photos and very clever articles! I’m glad to meet you in my blog too! If you like fashion or music, come! Good luck! And I hope to see you in my blog. -Vlad

Yes! The road down was definitely easier. Only drawback was that after getting past the cornice at the ridge on the way up (where I was clinging into a rock as bet I could) I refused to return the same way so there was a bit of off trail hiking and loose snow on the way down:) Nothing a couple of seasoned hikers couldn’t handle….haha! The walking sticks definitely helped. Thanks for reading!

Thanks Joy! The snow against the blue sky and green forest is beautiful, but definitely made the hike a bit more strenuous in addition to being the first hike of the year. My body was probably in chock after a long winter of hibernation. Hopefully the next hike will be a bit easier:) Thanks for reading.

We definitely got our heart rates up on this one! We did not meet any wildlife on the trail, but there had definitely been deer or similar there not long before us as there was fresh dung on the trial. We did see 3 deer on the road driving there though:) Thanks for reading!

What a gorgeous mix of show and green. I love this time of the year in the mountains. It’s always so beautiful and peaceful!! But no raspberries? I’ll wait for the picture haha. A very beautiful hike and as usual, great writing! Have a lovely day!

Thanks Lucy! Beautiful with the combination of snow and greenery for sure, but the snow definitely mad the hike a bit harder. Guess we were a bit optimistic to believe the trail would be clear of snow in April already. I have to say, I was very disappointed to not find any raspberries! I’ll have to send in a complaint to whoever named this ridge! 🙂 Thanks for reading.

No one on the trails should be a good indictator it is not a spring or an easy hike, lol. Those photos have some steep slopes and I agree guide book writers are likely not the best to ask. It reminds me of when we were in New Orleans. I was trying to avoid spicy food so I would ask the waitress if it was spicy. They always so no and I guess by there standards it wasn’t but it is all in the eyes of the reviewers.

I guess if you read a book written by someone who has been on ‘every’ summit in the Rockies you should take the characterisation ‘easy’ with a pinch of salt:) Lessons learnt. But to their defence the snow definitely made the hike harder, in some sections I had snow up to my waist!
Thanks for reading.
(P.S. You should try ask a Indian if the food is spicy…hehe)

Thanks Phil! We are a bit stubborn so once we had driven all the way out to Kananaskis and started on the trail we couldn’t give up! But the next hike will have to wait, I had my dose of hiking with snow to my waist in a while. Guess we were a bit optimistic believing snow would be gone in April…hehe. Glad you enjoyed the ‘virtual’ hike! Thanks for reading.

Lovely hike with very nice views. How was the winter in the Rockies? Here is WA we had nearly no snow and many routes can be hiked snow free or with minimal snow coverage that usually are not available until mid to late June. It’s crazy.

Thanks! Not the longest hike, so was surprised we used 5 hours on it! But when you have snow up to you waist it is not fast going:) The winter has been a strange one up here. Mild, and not as much snow as usual. That is why we thought it would be possible to do the hike already (and I guess it kind of was). During a ‘normal’ year we wouldn’t even attempt hiking this trail in April, it would be better skiing it:) Thanks for reading!

Thanks Clay! It was definitely a work out, partially due to the snow still on the trail and partially since it was the first hike of the year. Should have hit the gym more often over winter:) Thanks for stopping by!

Inger & Tor

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